Combined washing and drying machine



Feb. 4, 1936. J c NELSON 2,029,937

COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l v 2 0 Mr/vms ATTORNEY;

Feb. 4, 1936. I J. c. NELSON 2,029,937

I COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 j. 0. Arm Wmvzas Br 7% Feb. 4, 1936. J. c. NELSON COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 4, 1936. J. c. NELSON COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1951 4 Sheets$heet 4 14 TTORA/[XS Patented Feb. 4, 1936 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Jabez Curry Nelson, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse,

' N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1931, Serial No. 535,543

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved combined washing and drying machine.

The main object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character in which the parts are so arranged that the vats for the washing and drying mechanisms are nested in a single supporting member.

A further object resides in the provision of a supporting form having two substantially square recesses of different areas for receiving and supporting two substantially square tubs or vats of different sizes corresponding to respective recess areas.

Another object is to provide asupporting and locating member for the vats which is so formed as to. provide a concealing skirt for the operating mechanism of the device.

Other objects and advantages relate to .the size, shape andarrangement of parts all as will more fully appear from the'following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of thedevice.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partially brokenaway and partially in section.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 7.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is Figure 5a. is a section on line 5a-5a of Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure I is a section on line l-l of Figure 4.

My invention comprises a main supporting member 5 preferably stamped from sheet metal and having at one end a recess a, in which is seated a vat 2 adapted to receive a washing mechanism.

Adjacent recess a is a second recess b in which is seated a vat 3 adapted to receive a centrifuge. On the under side of the member l are secured spaced bosses A preferably having a pair of such bosses t at three points on the under face of member i. To each pair of bosses t is secured a supporting leg 5.

The operating mechanism for the at. mechanism and the drying mechanism is contained in a gear casing t supported at two points on the under face of member 9.

An aperture is provided through the central point of the bottom of the vat 2 and recess a through which extends a tubular member i having an annular nge adjacent its lower endand having a downwardly extending externally threaded portion Q which engages a tubular internally' threaded boss it on one end of gear easing 6 thereby securing vat 2 in recess a, and also a section on line 55 of Figure 4.

securing one end of gear casing 6 on the under face of member I.

For the purpose of preventing leakage from the vat 2, I prefer to provide between flange 8 and vat 2,- and also between the under face of vat 2 and recess a, gaskets as I l.'

As an additional means for securing vat 2 in position in recess a I provide a plurality, in this case shown as four, of bolt assemblies II which pass through the bottom of vat 2 and supporting member I.

A vertical shaft I2 has its lower end journaled in the bottom of gear casing 6, an end thrust bearing ball I3 being positioned between the end of shaft l2 and the bottom of gear casing 6.

The tubular member 1 extends upwardly a considerable distance in vat 2 to a point above the normal level of the washing liquid in such vat.

The shaft l2 extends upwardly beyond a journal M in the upper end of tubular member I and is secured as by a key l5, and a set screw Hi to the upper end of an agitator l'l conventionally mounted on the tubular member i for oscillatory motion.

Referring to Figure 6, the shaft i2 carries on its lower end a gear 18 in mesh with a segment IS. The segment I9 is pivotally mounted on a circular member 20 which in turn is eccentrically mounted. on a shaft 2! which is journaled in gear casing t.

The rotation of shaft 2!! carrying member 20 will cause segment is to be moved into and out of engagement with gear it as desired.

A second gear 22 is rotatably mounted in gear casing S, and carries one end of a link 23 eccentrically mounted thereon. The other end of link 23 is mounted on one end of segment it so that the, rotary motion of gear 22 will cause a reciprocating motion of segment it, which motion'will in turn be transmitted to gear it and thence through shaft 52 to agitator ll.

Gear 22 is in mesh with a worm 2& carried on a shaft 25 which has one end journaled in gear casing t, and which has its other end joined as by a coupling 26 to a second shaft 2?. Shaft 2? has its other end journaled in gear casing 6.

The end of shaft 25 extends outwardly beyond gear casing ti, and is joined as by a coupling 2&3 to the armature shaft 29 of an electric motor 3d, which electric motor 3@ is secured on the imder face of supporting member (I. I

Referring to Figure 4, there is provided an aperture through the central points of vat 3 and recess b. A tubular member 35 is provided a- Eli cent its lower end with an annular flange and with a depending externally threaded portion 33, which extends downwardly through the apertures in vat 3 and recess b into engagement with the tubular internally threaded boss t l carried on one end of gear casing 6 so that the engagement of parts 33 and M will secure vat in recess 2), and will also secure one end of gear casing t to the under surface of supporting member E].

For the purpose of preventing leakage from vat 3, I prefer to provide gaskets 35, one interposed between annular flange 32 and vat 3, and the other interposed between vat t and recess 17.

As an additional means for securing vat 3 in position in recess b I provide a plurality, two only being shown, of bolt assemblies 35 which pass through the bottom of vat 3 and supporting member I.

The bolt assemblies 8 l and 35' are similar and a description of one is a description of the other. Bolt assembly l i, see Figure 511, comprises a bolt 83 having its head seated in a dish shaped washer 8 3 beneath which and the bottom of tank 2 is interposed a rubber gasket 85. The bolt 83 is held in position by a nut at between which and the under face of supporting member i is interposed a Washer 37.

A shaft 35 having a square upper end 3'5 has its lower end journaled in gear casing 5 with a thrust ball bearin 3% interposed between the lower end of shaft 35 and gear casing Er.

Shaft 36 extends upwardly beyond the upper end of member 3i and supports a rotatable basket til, the square end (all of shaft 36 being seated in a square recess in a tubular portion ill of the bottom portion 32 of basket 40.

As may best be seen from Figures t and 5, the lower end of the side wall of the basket dd is corrugated in shape and is secured as by bolts 43 to the bottom portion 42 of basket MD.

The side wall of the basket 48 is imperforate and tapers slightly upwardly and inwardly so that any liquid thrown by centrifugal force against the side wall of basket ill will move downwardly and pass outwardly between the side wall of the basket it, and the bottom portion 12 and be deposited in the bottom of the vat 3. The bottom portion 62 of the basket ill is provided with a plurality of apertures id to permit the escape of any liquid which may be deposited in the bottom portion d2 into the Vat 3.

As may be seen from Figures l and 5, the upper edge of bottom portion 42 is castellated to provide additional ports for the passage of liquid into the vat 3.

Intermediate its ends and beneath supporting member l, shaft 36 is journaled as at c in the top of gear casing E. A flanged member 65 is secured on shaft 36 as by a set screw it, and abuts against gear casing t.

Beneath the flange member l5 and slidably I mounted on shaft 36 is a flanged clutch member ll secured against rotary motion in relation to shaft 36, as by a key 418.

Beneath clutch member all and rotatably mounted on shaft 36 is a second clutch member 419, which has secured thereto a gear 5b, which gear 56 (see Figure 6) is in mesh with a spiral gear 5! carried on shaft 277.

Interposed between clutch members all and 49 is a clutch and brake lining 52. A spiral sprin 53 encircles flanged member t5 and clutch member 46, and normally urges clutch member 4! downwardly into clutching relation with clutch member 39. When in such clutching relation,

the rotary motion of gear 50 will cause the rotary motion of clutch member 4'! and such clutch member d1 being keyed to shaft 36, shaft 36 will be caused to rotate, and this in turn, will cause the rotation of basket 40.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a vertical shaft 563 is slidably mounted in gear casing t, and carries a fork adapted to engage the under face of lining 52 to carry such lining and clutch member All vertically out of engagement with clutch member 49.

The upper end of shaft 54 is provided with rack teeth 55 in mesh with a toothed end 56 of a shaft 5'! rockingly mounted in gear casing b so that when shaft 57 is rocked, it will carry shaft 5% vertically in the direction desired.

For the purpose of providing a convenient means for controlling the operation of the washing mechanism and of the drying mechanism, I provide a tubular member 58 having its lower end formed with a shoulder and inserted through an aperture in supporting member 6, and having its upper end secured as by a bolt 59 to a cover plate hereinafter to be described.

A second tubular member 60 is positioned in member 58 and has secured to its upper end, a crank arm El the inner end of which is journaled in member 58 and the outer end of which extends outwardly through a slot in member 58.

The lower end of tubular member 6!! is jour= naled in a lug 622 secured to the depending skirt of supporting member I.

On the lower end of tubular member 50 is secured a crank arm 63 connected, as by a link 6 5, to a crank arm 65 which is secured to the outer end of shaft 51 so that the rocking of crank ti will, through the oscillation of tubular member 66, cause crank arm 55 to be rocked to cause shaft 57?, through teeth 56, to raise and lower shaft 55 to clutch and un-clutch the members M and Gil, and thus control the operation of the basket ill.

A shaft as is journaled in tubular member Bid with its upper end extending upwardly therefrom and secured to a crank bl which extends outwardly through a slot in the tubular mem= ber 58. t

The lower end of shaft 66 extends downwardly beyond the lower end of. tubular member lid and has secured thereto, a crank arm 68 which is secured on the upper end of shaft 2i so that the rocking of crank Bl will, through the oscillation of shaft 66, cause shaft 26 to be partially rotated to carry segment l9 into and out of" em gagement with gear I 8 and thus control the operation of the agitator.

A spring it has one end secured to crank case 6, and has the other end secured to the outer end of crank arm Ill to normally rotate shaft 2i in a direction to hold segment iii in mesh with gear 62.

For the purpose of disposing of liquid in vats 2 and 3, I provide on the outer end of shaft El, a centrifugal pump 12. The intake of pump '52 is connected by a conduit I3 to an aperture in the bottom of vat 3 and conduit 73 is continued and is in comunication with a valve it leading into the botto of vat 2.

Valve it is controlled through a rock shaft l5 having a convenient handle 16.

The discharge opening from the pump I2 is connected to a flexible conduit I? having on its upper end a valve controlled spout 38.

For the purpose of appearances and also for the purposes of holding the upper ends of vats t6 2 and 3 in fixed relation, I provide a cover plate or binding strip 19 having apertures over vats 2 and 3, and being beaded over the inturned top edges of vats 2 and 3.

Cover plate 19, constituting a frame member for the upper ends of the vats, is provided with an auxiliary aperture 80 leading into vat 2 through which spout 18 may be inserted if it is desired to transfer the liquid in vat 3 into vat 2,

as is frequently done in the case of suds when it is desired to re-use them on a new batch of clothes.

When it is desired to dispose of rinsing water from vat 3, the spout 18 may be directed into a sink or other receptacle, and when it is desired to reclaim blueing water from vat 3, the spout 18 may be directed into blueing receptacle.

Valve .ld controlling the opening between vat 2 and conduit I3 is normally closed, but when it is desired to dispose of the liquid in vat 2, valve 14 is opened and spout it is directed to a sink or other receptacle.

A removable cover 8! is provided for vat 2, and a hinged cover 82 is provided for vat 3.

Although not here shown, it will be understood that means are provided for connecting the motor 3B to a source of potential, and in order that to the supporting member '5.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the shape and relation of the various parts of the device without departing from the spirit of my invention, for although I have shown and described a specific structure and form and relation of parts as an exempliflcation of an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or relation of parts, as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a device of the class described, a washing vat substantially square in cross section in which i an agitator is oscillatably mounted. a drying vat substantially square in cross section in which a centrifuge is mounted, a common base for the washing and drying vats whereby they may be mounted in juxtaposition and through which the drive shafts for the agitator and centrifuge pass, 'said common base having depressed portions conforming in shape to and being adapted to receive, the bottoms of the vats.

2. In a device of the class described, a washing vat substantially square in cross-section in which an agitator is oscillatably mounted. said washing vat having substantially vertical side walls and a bottom rounded upwardly towards the side walls, a drying vat substantially square in cross section in which a centrifuge is mounted, said drying vat having verticalside walls and a bottom rounded.

upwardly towards the side walls, a common base for the washing and drying vats whereby they may be mounted in juxtaposition and through which the drive shafts for the agitator and centrifuge pass, said common base having curved marginal outer portions conforming to the curvature of the bottom of the vats extending upwardly to meet the sides of the vats and then extending downwardly in substantial alignment with the sides of the vat and forming a depending skirt adapted, at least partially, to enclose the operating mechanism for the washing and drying machine.

3. In a device of the class described, a washing vat in which an agitator is oscillatably mounted, said washing vat being substantially square in cross section and having a rounded bottom, a drying vat in which a centrifuge is mounted, said drying vat being substantially square in cross section and having a rounded bottom, a common base for the washing and drying vats whereby they may be mounted in juxtaposition and through which the drive shafts for the agitator and centrifuge pass, said common base having depressed portions conforming in shape to and adapted to receive the bottoms of the vats,

and a frame member conforming substantially to the square shape of the vats, having openings therein conforming to the openings in the vats,

lid

said frame member being fitted on the rims of the vats. v

4. In a device of the class described, a washing vat in which an agitator is oscillatably mounted,

said washing vat being substantially square in curved marginal outer portions conforming to the curvature of the bottoms of the vats extending upwardly to meet the sides of the vats and then extending downwardly in substantial alignment with the sides of the vat and forming a depending skirt, at least partially, to enclose the operating mechanism for the washing and drying machine,

and a frame member having openingstherein and conforming substantially to the square shape of the vats, said frame member being fitted on the tops of said vats.

5. In a device of the class described, a washing vat having substantially vertical side walls and having a bottom rounded upwardly towards the side walls, a drying'vat of substantially similar shape, a common base for .the washing and drying vats whereby they may be mounted in juxtaposition, said common base having curved marginal outer portions conforming to the curvature of the bottoms of the vats extending upwardly to meet the vertical side walls and then extending downwardly in substantial alinement therewith and forming a depending skirt partially to enclose the operating mechanism for the washing and drying machine.

J ABEZ CURRY NELSON. 

